The Vedic Signs

by Hank Friedman

[Author's Note: Throughout this article, the example charts use signs in the Sidereal Zodiac, not the
Tropical Zodiac.]

Since mankind's earliest days on Earth, the movement of the Sun across the heavens has garnered our
rapt attention. We can measure the Sun's path from two different vantage points: in reference to our own
position on the Earth, or in reference to its path across the backdrop of the stars. For many purposes,
such as hunting, planting and harvesting and other seasonal events, observing the Sun's passage relative
to ones' physical location has been of vital importance. The movement of the Sun (and the other planets)
across the field of stars has been valued, on the other hand, for selecting propitious times for both
mundane proceedings and spiritual rituals, for navigation, and for predicting astronomical events.

Astrologers also use both methods of reckoning. Western astrologers use the seasonal or Tropical
Zodiac, where the signs are based upon the annual movement of the Sun in relationship to the Earth. The
Tropical sign of Aries begins at the point in the sky where the Sun crosses the Equator going North on
the first day of Spring (for the Northern Hemisphere), around March 21st. Vedic astrologers, on the other
hand, use the stellar or Sidereal Zodiac, where the Sidereal sign of Aries is determined by the placement
of the stars in the Zodiacal constellations of the night sky. For the 21st century, the Sun enters Sidereal
Aries around April 15th.

The Tropical Zodiac reflects how the changes of the seasons, of weather, and of light and dark, affect us,
while the Sidereal Zodiac reveals our place among the stars, our place in the Universe. Since the signs in
both Zodiacs have the same names, and many of the same characteristics, this can confuse astrologers
and lead some to believe that one must be right and the other wrong. But in fact, those who use the
Tropical Zodiac do so in ways that differ from those who employ the Sidereal Zodiac, and vice versa. It
is vitally important to be clear here that all methods of astrology that use either Zodiac can be deep and
alive in the hands of a talented practitioner.

But how did the both kinds of signs end up with the same names? The most likely explanation is that
during the early years of Western astrology, the Tropical and Sidereal Zodiacs were virtually aligned (at
most only a few degrees apart), so that there was little need to distinguish between them. In fact, many
Western astrologers today don't realize that the signs they use (i.e. in the Tropical Zodiac) no longer
occupy the same space as the constellations that they were originally named for.

For example, if you look up at the night sky when the Moon is in early to the middle of Virgo in a
Western chart, visually it will be traversing the constellation of Leo. Astronomers sometimes try to use
this fact to deride modern astrology, not realizing that a Zodiac based upon the seasons is just as valid as
one based upon constellational positions.

As implied above, the two Zodiacs diverge from each other. Because the Earth is not a perfect sphere but
instead is wider at the equator, it wobbles in its orbit, and as a result the seasons and the position of the
Sun relative to the Earth shift in relationship to the constellations. In fact, the Tropical sign Aries
coincides with the constellation of Aries for only a small fraction of the 26,000 year precessional cycle.

Within Vedic astrology, the difference between the Zodiacs is called the Ayanamsha, which means
"falling back portion". Vedic astrologers reckon the beginning of the Sidereal Zodiac based upon
specific star positions, with the most commonly used ayanamsha (called the Lahiri or Chitrapaksha
ayamamsha) based upon the position of the star Spica as marker of the beginning of the Sidereal sign
Libra.

Using the Lahiri ayamasha, the two Zodiacs coincided at 285 AD.The difference between the Zodiacs
grows by only about one degree every 72 years. Today, the difference between them is approximately 24
degrees. E.g. a planet at 25 degrees of Cancer in a Western chart is at about 1 degree of Cancer
Sidereally, and any planet earlier than 24 degrees of any Tropical sign will move back to the previous
Sidereal sign. This divergence continues to increase, and therefore astrologers are having to come to
terms with planets being in one sign Tropically and another one Sidereally. Nevertheless, each Zodiac
has exceptional value within the astrological system in which it is used.

The purpose of this article is to show how Vedic astrologers use Sidereal signs. (Note: Vedic astrology
also makes extensive use of the Sidereal Zodiac in its system of Lunar Mansions, aka Nakshatras. See
Linda Johnsen's fine articles on the Nakshatras in The Mountain Astrologer.)

One clear illustration of the contrasting approaches lies in the fact that while Western astrology
textbooks usually have delineations of all of the planets in each of the signs, Vedic classical texts do not.
The early references only give interpretations for the Rising Signs and occasionally for the Moon signs,
and the later texts that offer planet in sign meanings do so by categorizing the planet in the sign of
another planet, not it a sign itself. For example: Mars in a sign of Venus, instead of Mars in Taurus or
Mars in Libra.

On the other hand, while most Vedic classics interpret the rulers of houses (by house, strength, aspects,
etc.) in great depth, this is not commonly done in most Western astrology textbooks. The entire Vedic
system of approach, in other words, is oriented towards planets and towards using signs as indicating
planetary rulerships, as opposed to focusing on the qualities of the signs themselves.

That is not to say that the signs lack meaning. As you can see from the section below, the signs have rich
and detailed significations. But these are secondary to their planetary owners. For example, if a planet is
in its sign of exaltation, a Western astrologer sees it as strong. A Vedic astrologer, however, immediately
looks at the strength of the planet that rules the exaltation sign, and if that planet is weak, then the
exaltation would carry little weight. Similarly, if a planet is in the sign opposite to its exalted sign (which
Western astrology calls Fall and Vedic astrology debilitation or neecha), then again the Vedic astrologer
looks at its dispositor, and if the ruler of the debilitation sign is strong, then the debilitation is not only
ameliorated, but can in fact indicate remarkable abilities. This way of thinking, about the profound effect
of dispositors upon planets, is a central and valuable approach in Vedic astrology.

B. The Vedic Rashis

The Vedic term for astrological sign is rashi, which means a heap of stars. While modern Western
astrology is very theme-based, with all of the qualities of Taurus, for example, clearly correlating with
each other, Vedic astrology is more non-linear, with no attempt to merge the various meanings of each
sign into coherent themes.

The fundamental fact is that Vedic astrologers conceive of and use signs differently than Western
astrologers, and that the differing sections of space actually have divergent meanings. We see this in the
classical Vedic interpretations of the signs. In Mantreswara's 16th century classical work, Phala Deepika1,
the sign Aries is seen as associated with fear of water, for example, a quality not typically ascribed to
Tropical Aries in Western astrology. (See the following table for all of the signs)

Unique Meanings of the Rising Signs in Vedic Astrology

Aries

round eyes, weak knees, of poor appetite, concealing facts, and sexy

Taurus

heavy thighs, sacrificing, happy in middle - end of life, enjoys young women

drinks a lot of water, scholar, sharp vision, fond of his wife, grateful, very lucky

Additionally, while the three modes: Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable, are associated with the same signs as
they are in Western astrology, they have their own names and meanings in Vedic astrology. Cardinal
signs are called Moveable, and indicate travel and restlessness, Fixed signs keep the same name, but
indicate the unlikelihood of travel, while Mutable signs are called Dual, and indicate alternating between
the first two styles.

As you can see in the table below, rashis or Vedic signs, are classified in many unique ways, expanding
upon the meaning of each sign.

Vedic Classifications of the Signs

As you can see from the table, the rulership of each sign corresponds with the sign rulerships used in
Western astrology until the 20th century. The symmetry of paired rulers is a beautiful thing to observe
(click here to see Figure One: The Symmetry of Sign Rulerships) and Vedic astrologers were very careful, even after
they introduced additional points into the chart, not to disturb this rulership scheme.

The abodes listed in the table are a few of the many physical locations associated with each sign. These
locations were used for a variety of purposes, including choosing where to build a house, and the finding
of objects. The three dosha come from the field of Ayurveda, and are used to assist astrologers in the
diagnosis and cure of disease, and in making nutritional recommendations. Pitta has a firey quality
indicating temper, heat, and assertion; Vata has a windy quality indicating sensitivity, nervousness, and
susceptibility to cold; and Kapha has a watery quality indicating heaviness, lethargy, and slow-ness.

The signs' directions are used for Prashna (Vedic horary astrology) and Vastu (the Vedic counterpart of
Feng Shui), while the fertility attribute addresses the likelihood of having children. The way a sign rises
has been used to assess whether the conditions at the time of birth are favorable or unfavorable.

One additional classification of the signs is central to the Vedic concept of the aims of life. There are
four basic aims of life, Dharma, which indicates integrity and life purpose and corresponds to the Fire
signs and houses (houses 1, 5, & 9), Artha, which indicates livelihood and security needs, and
corresponds with the Earth signs and houses (houses 2, 6, & 10), Kama, which indicates involvement in
relationships and the pursuit of pleasure , and corresponds with the Air signs and houses (houses 3, 7, &
11), and finally Moksha, which indicates the goal of enlightenment and the lessons in letting go, and
corresponds with the Water signs and houses (houses 4, 8, & 12).

An excellent example of a person with strong dharma, because he has planets in their own Fire signs in
Fire houses, is Paul Newman. Renowned for his integrity, he has Jupiter in Sagittarius in the First House
and Mars in Aries in the Fifth House. On a more shadowy side, Charles Manson's charisma gave him
tremendous influence over others, and he had Venus and Mercury (lords of Air houses) as well as the
Sun and Jupiter, all in Venus' sign of Libra, in the 7th house. He manipulated and seduced his followers
with drugs and sex, powerfully playing upon their pursuit of pleasure.

C. The Strength and Stability of Planets

Both Western and Vedic astrologers see planets as strong in their own signs and signs of exaltation, and
weak in their sign of debilitation. While Western astrologers also see planets as weak in the opposite
sign(s) to the one(s) ruled, Vedic astrologers do not.

Besides using Exaltation and Debilitation as indicators of planetary strength and weakness, Vedic
astrologers group planets as friends, neutrals, and enemies to each other. When a planet is in the sign of
a friend, it is strong (but not as strong as when in its own sign or exaltation). When a planet is in the sign
of an enemy, it is weak (but not as weak as in debilitation). When a planet is in the sign of a neutral
planet, its strength is mediocre (i.e. average).

Table of Planetary Friendships

Planet

Friends

Neutrals

Enemies

Sun

Moon, Mars, Jupiter

Mercury

Venus, Saturn

Moon

Sun, Mercury

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

None

Mercury

Sun, Venus

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

Moon

Venus

Mercury, Saturn

Mars, Jupiter

Sun, Moon

Mars

Sun, Moon, Jupiter

Venus, Saturn

Mercury

Jupiter

Sun, Moon, Mars

Saturn

Mercury, Venus

Saturn

Mercury, Venus

Jupiter

Sun, Moon, Mars

To use the above table, it is important to note that the signs of exaltation, ownership, and debilitation
supercede the considerations in the table. E.g. even though the Moon is a friend of Mars, Mars is
debilitated in Cancer. Similarly, even though Jupiter is a neutral planet for Venus, Venus is exalted in
Pisces.

Knowing the strength of each planet is of major importance. It allows Vedic astrologers to determine the
most influential planet in any configuration (the strongest planet has the greatest effect, although very
weak planets can have potent disruptive effects). Jyotishis also need to assess whether any of the positive
combinations in the chart (the positive yogas) are of real consequence. The rule of thumb is that for a
yoga to significantly lift up the quality of a person's life, at least one planet in the combination should be
strong. In Tom Hanks' chart, for example, Venus in its own sign of Taurus in the Tenth House is a major
indicator of his fame and success. In fact, Hanks has three planets in their own signs and two others
exchanging signs in his chart (which gives them strength). (Yogas are discussed at greater length in the
next section of this article.)

Another way that signs are used by Vedic astrologers is to assess the stability of planets. (Other causes of
instability are planetary wars – where planets are within a degree of each other, retrogradation,
combustion, and the New and Full Moon.) When a planet is in its sign of exaltation or debilitation, that
planet becomes unstable, exaggerated in influence, and therefore the themes of the houses it occupies,
rules, and aspects as well as those of the planets it aspects become destabilized. A good example is the
chart of Adolph Hitler. In his seventh house, he had the exalted Sun in Aries – as well as a planetary war
between Venus and Mars – and his primary relationships, the people he was closest to, and he himself,
were very unstable, and he and his generals were exaggerated in self-importance.

D. The Network of Rulerships.

Perhaps the most important use of the signs in Jyotish is their role in house rulership. As
aforementioned, the rulership systems in both ancient Western and in Vedic astrology are identical. The
employment of house rulers in delineation, however, is more developed in Vedic astrology than
anywhere else.

In Jyotish, combinations of two or more astrological factors (called yogas) create conditions that either
raise or lower a person's life beyond the ordinary. A yoga can be as simple as a planet strong by its sign
placement in one or more specific houses. Or it can be as complex as a series of several different criteria
that must all be met. Thousands upon thousands of yogas are defined in classical Vedic texts, and the
majority of these yogas use sign rulerships in their specifications. E.g. in Harrison Ford's chart, it is the
ruler of the First House in the Tenth House (in its own sign) that is one of the major indicators of his
fame.

Please remember that in Vedic astrology, as in ancient Western astrology, each house was equivalent to
one sign, so the terms sign and house became quite interchangeable. This is called the Whole Sign
House System, in the West, or a Rashi chart, in Jyotish. For example, if the Ascendant occupies any
degree of Taurus, the entire First House becomes the sign of Taurus.

The intricacy and importance of the network of house rulerships in Jyotish cannot be underestimated. To
have the ruler of a supportive house (all houses except 3, 6, 8, and 12) in a challenging house (especially
6, 8, or 12), indicates challenges for the themes of the positive house. For example, Marilyn Monroe had
her Fifth Lord in the Eighth House, and she had many pregnancies, all of which were terminated by
abortion.

Similarly, to have two supportive house rulers together in the same house portends particularly well for
not only the themes of both houses ruled, but also even more so for the house occupied. In other words,
the ruler of a house carries its themes into the house it occupies and aspects. In Harrison Ford's chart, his
1St , 4th, 7th, 10th, and 11th lords are all in the 10th, as indicators of great 10th house success, but because
the 12th lord is also there, he had many obstacles on the road to fame and fortune. Fortunately for him,
the strongest planet was the 1st and 10th lord, the aforementioned Mercury.

While this discussion of house rulerships may seem daunting, it actually becomes quite easy to apply. If
the ruler of a challenging house is strong (and in a house other than one it owns) then the themes of
house occupied by it become significantly obstructed. For example, if the 6th house lord (indicating
adversaries and illness) is strong, then one's opponents or illnesses are likely to be significant. One can
even compare the strength of two house lords. E.g. If the 7th house lord is stronger than the 1st house lord,
the person is likely to marry "above themselves". In Princess Diana's chart, her 7th house lord (Venus in
Taurus) was significantly stronger than her 1st house lord (Mars in Leo).

Exploring the chart of a famous person may further clarify the Vedic way of using the signs in a chart.
The chart of Marilyn Monroe, previously mentioned, illustrates several principles. Click here to see Figure 2: The
Chart of Marilyn Monroe.

Let's start with Saturn in Libra, because it is the strongest planet in her chart. It is the lord of houses 7
and 8, and it is located in the 4th house. As Lord of the 7th, we see that it represents her partners, who
indeed were exalted in the eyes of the World (including Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, J.F.K, Frank
Sinatra, Marlon Brando and many others). That same strong planet, Saturn, in the house of home and
mother (the 4th house) expressed itself as the 8th lord when her mentally ill mother tried to smother her,
and her mother was later taken away to a mental institution. It is not generally desirable to have a strong
8th lord, as its strength magnifies 8th house themes, which can include incest, rape, sexual scandals,
emotional challenges, and addictions – all of which played a major part in her life.

This powerful Saturn also aspects the First House (Vedic astrology emphasizes the backwards square or
10th aspect of Saturn), and Marilyn experienced a profound sense of isolation wherever she went.

Her Sun, on the other hand, is in a weakened position, in the sign of its enemy Venus, and as the 2nd
lord, Marilyn lived in rinky dink apartments, had a "party line" (shared) telephone, and had huge money
battles with the studios, even though she was famous and a great money-maker for them.

Marilyn Monroe has a powerful "passion combination" in her chart. Venus as lord of the 4th is opposite
Saturn as lord of the 7th, and Saturn is both very strong (exalted and retrograde) and both sources of its
strength also indicate instability. This combination explains both her widespread sexual activities and the
impermanence of her primary relationships. Saturn's destabilizing influence upon both her 4th house and
her 4th lord Venus also accounts for her having lived in over 45 different residences in her life.

Even though neither Jupiter nor Mars have much strength (both are in neutral signs), and they are placed
together in the 8th house, their rulership of the 9th and 10th houses (respectively) creates one of the most
profound yogas for success, which certainly manifested in her life. Note that her fame came from being a
sex symbol, i.e. an 8th house theme.

Finally, Mercury in Taurus has both strength and weakness. (Note: in Vedic astrology, if a planet is both
strong and weak, both are seen to manifest, instead of nullifying each other.) Mercury is in the sign of a
friend, Venus, giving it strength, and very close to the Sun (combust), which weakens it. Marilyn was
known to those close to her as having an excellent mind (showing Mercury's strength), but was often
misperceived by the general public as being ditsy. (The gifts represented by planets in combustion are
often either difficult to express or unseen by others.)

Note how, in the entire delineation of Marilyn Monroe's chart, the signs were only used to determine
planetary strength and house rulerships. This is how Vedic chart analysis is typically done.

Vedic astrologers use the Sidereal signs effectively using methods that differ from those used by many
modern Western astrologers. Jyotishis do not focus on the psychological makeup of the sign occupied by
each planet, like many Western astrologers do, but instead place their attention on how planets are
strengthened or weakened by the signs they occupy, and what signs and houses they rule.

1. PhalaDeepika Translated by S.S. Sareen Sagar Publications 1992

Chart Data for the Article:

Credit for providing the astrological data for this article goes to AstroDatabank.